The opening match of the Champions Trophy 2025 saw nearly a full house however, the second fixture between India and Bangladesh saw the stands almost completely empty on Thursday.
The opening match of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Pakistan witnessed an almost full house at the National Bank Stadium in Karachi, with 29,300 fans filling the stadium's 34,000-seat capacity to watch Pakistan take on New Zealand.
The atmosphere was electric as the crowd showed immense enthusiasm, celebrating the return of ICC events to Pakistan after nearly three decades. However, the excitement soon turned to disappointment for the home side, as they were outplayed by New Zealand, who won by 60 runs.
Despite the successful start to the tournament in Pakistan, the situation took a sharp turn during the second match of the tournament between India and Bangladesh in Dubai. The stands were notably empty for this game, with large sections of the stadium left vacant.
The lack of spectators led to widespread criticism, especially after the buzz surrounding the opening match in Karachi, where the stadium had nearly been full. The empty stands in Dubai were a stark contrast to the full-house atmosphere in Karachi, and commentators were left surprised by the lack of support for the game.
Social media was flooded with images of the empty stands, with only a few sections completely filled. Fans and analysts alike were puzzled by the situation, considering the significance of the tournament and the high profile of the teams involved.
The lack of spectators in Dubai raised questions about the dwindling popularity of the One-Day format, and many were quick to point out the stark difference between the Champions Trophy and the glitzy IPL, which regularly attracts large crowds.
Lalit Modi, the first chairman of the Indian Premier League, took to social media to express his concerns, calling out the emptiness of the stands and questioning whether the One-Day format was losing relevance with fans.
Modi posted on X, "Watching the @ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between #India and #Bangladesh. Stands are empty. That would not happen at an #IPL game. Is the one-day format becoming irrelevant to the fans? What's your view? Should one-day cricket be scrapped and more Test cricket?”
The commentary surrounding the empty stands echoed across social media platforms, with fans debating whether the format was indeed losing its appeal.
While the T20 cricket continues to dominate the cricketing world with its fast-paced, high-energy format, the future of traditional One-Day cricket remains uncertain in the face of changing fan preferences.
In terms of the match, Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and elected to bat first against India in their Champions Trophy opener.
Towhid Hridoy's century and Jaker Ali's half-century guided Bangladesh to a total of 229 runs, setting India a target in the second ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match at Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.
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